I love a good quote. Who doesn’t? When you quote someone else, not only do you get to borrow from the genius or insight of another, you can do so without culpability.

If anyone takes issue with it, just say, “Hey, I didn’t say it. I was just repeating what so and so said.”

I also love sports and I love the fact that some of the most memorable American quotes have been the product of our obsession with the games of our American pastime and the men who play them.

Not everyone is obsessed with the games men play with their balls…

Is it a reasonable thing, I ask you, for a grown man to run about and hit a ball? Poker’s the only game fit for a grown man. Then, your hand is against every man’s, and every man’s is against yours. Teamwork? Who ever made a fortune by teamwork? There’s only one way to make a fortune, and that’s to down the fellow who’s up against you. ~W. Somerset Maugham

I do like teamwork. I think it is a beautiful thing—especially in the great game of American football. I especially love teamwork when it involves my team—America’s team— the Dallas Cowboys.

“Football incorporates the two worst elements of American society: violence punctuated by committee meetings.”

~ George Will, author, commentator, humorist

The game of American football – especially at the professional level – lends itself to copious and memorable quotes, like the one above.

The Dallas Cowboys organization has been home to great leaders, singular players, and colorful characters throughout its noble history. Many of them have, with their words, weaved a colorful and rich tapestry, a verbal masterpiece draped on the walls of our memories.

Meredith: Always Quotable

If you are old enough to have been there, and if you can quiet your spirit enough, you can almost hear the even, measured words of Tom Landry, uttered in that south Texas drawl, words of wisdom, words to play – and to live – by. You can hear the even more twangy Texas twang of the witty Walt Garrison deadpanning about his coach. You can hear the almost musical quality of Meredith’s smooth delivery of yet another masterful bon mot.

It is not easy to sift through these treasures and find the ten most memorable, or ten most representative quotes of the franchise’s history. I doubt I have succeeded in doing so. I am sure you will correct me…and add your own sweet memory to this tapestry.

Number Ten:“That was the triumph of an uncluttered mind.” ~ Blaine Nye on Clint Longley’s Thanksgiving Day performance

Number Nine:“If ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts, wouldn’t it be a merry Christmas?” ~ Don Meredith

Number Eight:“He couldn’t spell ‘cat’ if you spotted him the ‘c’ and the ‘a.'” ~ Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson on Terry Bradshaw

Number Seven: “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” ~ Roger Staubach

Number Six:“Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.” ~ Tom Landry

Number Five:“He’s a perfectionist. If he was married to Raquel Welch, he’d expect her to cook.” ~ Don Meredith on Coach Landry

Number Four:“If the Super Bowl is the Ultimate Game, why are they playing it again next year?” ~ Duane Thomas

Number Three:“If it was third down, and you needed four yards, if you’d get the ball to Walt Garrison, he’d get ya five. And if was third down and ya needed 20 yards, if you’d get the ball to Walt Garrison, by God, he’d get you five.”~ Don Meredith on Walt Garrison

Number Two: “Nope. But I have only been here nine years.” ~ Walt Garrison, when asked if he had ever seen Tom Landry smile.

Number One:“Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play.” ~ D.D. Lewis

Like I said, it was quite difficult to narrow them down to just ten. These are my ten. It is entirely possible that the reader remembers ten others that were just as memorable, witty, or astounding. If so, feel free to reply and add your own list…or at least your own favorite quote.

As for me, I will let the most quotable Cowboy of them all get the final word…

Gene has been an avid Dallas Cowboys fan for nearly five decades, which amounts to just about his entire life. The only time he was not a Cowboys fan was that brief period at the beginning of his life, when he didn't have all his baby teeth and could not yet say "Cowboys." As soon as quit slobbering, he started hollering, "Go Cowboys!"

Love this article.It reminds me of some of the many reasons I came to love the cowboys.The players of that era are etched in my mind and heart.Walt Garrison was a hoot.Dandy Don was truly one of a kind.Quick witted and always seemed to have a smile sadly seems to only be remembered for MNF.I love Staubach but there was a quarterback before him.But back to the quotes how could you not include "How Bout Them Cowboys"? To me that quote is comparable to Michael Buffer's"Lets Get Ready To Rumble".(which IMHO may be the best in sports)Other than that I can't think of any to include.One other I hate to admit I like is T.O.'s "I Love Me Some Me".although that's not a Cowboys quote more of a player quote

One of may favorites comments was from MNF--I think it was a Houston Oiler game and Houston was getting blown out. In the fourth quarter the camera was scanning the crowd as they were leaving in mass. As the camera scanned, one individual was shown "shooting the finger to the camera" and Don quipped "there's one fan that still thinks their number 1".

I remember two comments Don Meredith made regarding players on the field. One was about a very aggressive offenceman for the Raiders. He said the individual had graduated from the Universty of Mars. Another time, a comment about a Dolphins receiver who was obviously slow, Don said that his 100yd. dash was measured with a calendar. He was an original who seemed to not have to answer to anyone yet kept his behavior from having to be questioned about.

Hey Gene, this is an excellent top ten list. I like #2 the best, I think it sums up Coach Landry very well. Well, I rather have a pissed off and successful coach, then a happy one that can't win. You can cross-post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

That was when the camera focused in on Otis Sistrunk's steaming bald head - pores and all. Most players went to college and are introduced with where they went to school. Mr. Sistrunk went from high school to professional football (not the NFL, as I recall, but pro ball nonetheless).